If all goes well in 2025, Tampa Bay Buccaneers perennial Pro Bowl wide receiver Mike Evans will break one of Hall of Fame legend Jerry Rice's most cherished records.
Both players put together 11 consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 yards receiving. Evans, since he joined the league in Round 1 of the 2014 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M. Rice's streak, meanwhile, lasted from his second pro season in 1986 through 1996 before a serious injury cut his 1997 campaign short to just two games.
Assuming a similar fate doesn't befall the soon-to-be 32-year-old Evans, there's a good chance Rice's name in the record books will be No. 2 in this particular category of consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.
Interestingly enough, the Hall of Fame GOAT is pulling for the Bucs star.
Mike Evans says Jerry Rice is 'rooting' for him to break record
Speaking with Kay Adams of the Up & Adams Show from Tampa Bay's training camp, Adams revealed Rice was rooting for the Buccaneers receiver to break the record.
"I'm still chasing history, chasing greatness"
Mike Evans says being great means never being satisfied
He adds that he was surprised to hear Jerry Rice is rooting for him to break the consecutive 1,000 yard seasons record 🚀@heykayadams | @MikeEvans13_ | #WeAreTheKrewe pic.twitter.com/ujLxHo3vUv
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) August 6, 2025
"He said he was rooting for me, surprisingly," Adams said of Rice to Adams. "He's super competitive, and I know he owns about 100 NFL records. But, he said he's rooting for me to break his record."
OK, so, even if Adams gets that 12th consecutive season, there'll be critics who call out the new record isn't as sacred as it once was when Rice was playing. Not only are offenses more protected for production now in comparison to when Rice and the San Francisco 49ers were dominant, but there's also been an extra game per season since 2021.
Although Evans hasn't exactly needed that extra game to squeak in a few more yards to get to 1,000 since the schedule change went live.
Instead, perhaps it'd be better to truly acknowledge Rice greatness by recognizing it took nearly 30 years for someone to reach such a feat, let alone break it, despite more games and more offense-friendly rule changes.
Just think of all the legendary receivers who never accomplished such a goal between Rice and Evans.
Plus, even if Evans breaks the record, Rice still has those other 99 (or so) NFL records of which the Bucs receiver spoke, right?
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